The Queen's Awards for Enterprise are the UK's top business accolades recognising outstanding achievement by UK companies. Those Awards given in the Innovation category recognise companies that have demonstrated commercial success through innovative products or services.

The Award recognises Curious Software's premiere product: Curious World Maps.

Launched in April 2000, Curious World Maps was the first commercially available system for map creation that combined the handling of vast quantities of geographic data with professional graphic design and animation capabilities.

Curious World Maps was designed to work on standard non-specialist computers; and to ensure that even novice users could create superb quality extremely detailed and accurate maps of anywhere in the world - still or animated, 2D or 3D - in a fraction of the time required with previous methods. The maps created are fully customisable to the users own style.

Curious World Maps has become the undisputed gold-standard for map creation in the broadcast industry. It is in daily use by the best local, national and international news and documentary companies around the world including: ABC, BBC Regions, CBC, CBS, CNN, NBC, The Met Office. It has also built-up a significant user base among large corporations and government agencies where the maps are used for presentations, briefings and visualisation.

Justin Wise, a Director of Curious Software, says "It is a huge honour for Curious Software to be recognised for the most prestigious awards for business performance. Our receipt of the Queen's Award for Enterprise 2004 in the Innovation category reflects our commitment to developing world-class products that are a joy to use and make a real difference to the work, productivity, and capabilities of our customers. We look forward to continuing to deliver the kind of innovation, quality and success that the award celebrates."